Refugee sponsorship routes: Home Office sets eligibility criteria and first 7 countries

What has changed

The Home Office published guidance on 29 October 2026. It sets out who is eligible to be sponsored under the named sponsorship and refugee study routes.

The routes will be introduced in phases. They will begin in a small number of countries before expanding. The guidance does not give a date for when the routes open.

• Bangladesh
• India
• Pakistan
• Malaysia
• Egypt
• Uganda
• Kenya

Who is affected

The routes are for people who have sought protection in one of the seven countries and are recognised as refugees by the relevant competent authority. They are not open to nationals living in their own country of origin.

To be in scope, a person must meet all of these points:

• Be outside their country of nationality, or if stateless, their country of former habitual residence
• Have been present in one of the route countries before 1 October 2026
• Be registered with the relevant authorities or UNHCR before 1 October 2026

Other requirements

Being in scope does not make a person eligible by itself. The person must also be a refugee who either:

• Has been verified by UNHCR as meeting the definition of a 'refugee' under the 1951 Refugee Convention, or
• Is a Palestinian within UNRWA's mandated area who cannot get a referral through UNHCR's resettlement process, but whose protection needs have been assessed through an alternative process set up by the Home Office
• Must also meet any route specific requirements, be supported by a sponsorship arrangement that meets the route's requirements, and meet identity, security and suitability requirements
• Must be able to access the services of the Home Office's delivery partners in that country

What you should do

The Home Office will publish the countries where the routes operate and any country-specific requirements. It will also give more information on how the registration requirement applies in each country, including where registration is limited or not available. Sponsors and lead sponsors should check the applicable guidance before putting forward a proposed beneficiary. Read the official page linked below.